HPE 864262-B21 6TB 3.5inch LFF SAS 12GBPS 7.2K Hot Plug MDL 512e Hard Drive.

Core specifications and technical profile

Key technical attributes define the 863768-B21 as a dependable choice for midline storage tiers:

• Capacity: 10TB (10,000 GB nominal formatted capacity).
• Form factor: 3.5 inch Large Form Factor (LFF) with SmartDrive carrier compatibility.
• Interface: Serial ATA (SATA) 6Gb/s (SATA III), 22-pin connector.
• Rotational speed: 7,200 RPM (7200 RPM), optimized for sustained sequential throughput.
• Sector format: 512e (512-byte emulation on 4K physical sectors), suitable for legacy OS and application compatibility.
• Workload class: Midline (MDL) — intended for bulk capacity and less-intensive random I/O workloads than enterprise SAS drives.
• Hot-plug capable: Designed for hot-swap SmartCarrier bays in HPE ProLiant servers and compatible enclosures.

These technical details make the 863768-B21 ideal when administrators need dense, reliable capacity for backup, archival, media, or capacity-tier applications. 

Performance characteristics

Sustained throughput and latency

With a 7.2K RPM spindle and a 6Gb/s SATA interface, the drive emphasizes consistent sequential throughput over extreme random IOPS performance. Typical midline drives of this class provide strong read/write streaming rates suitable for bulk storage tasks (large file transfers, media streaming, linear backups), while average seek times and latency are higher than 10K/15K enterprise drives or SSDs. For workloads dominated by sequential reads and writes the 863768-B21 delivers excellent cost per GB performance. 

Caching and command queuing

Native Command Queuing (NCQ) support and onboard cache algorithms improve effective throughput under multi-threaded SATA I/O, smoothing performance when multiple streams are active. While caching cannot match the low-latency responsiveness of NVMe/SSD tiers, it substantially improves efficiency for multi-stream sequential workloads typical in NAS, archival, and media library use cases. 

Design & build — reliability, firmware and drive hygiene

Enterprise certification and firmware

HPE-branded drives such as the 863768-B21 are often shipped with HPE-signed firmware and genuine HPE serial numbers, which helps ensure optimal interoperability with HPE ProLiant servers and SmartArray controllers. This reduces firmware-related compatibility issues and enables consistent monitoring via HPE system management utilities (iLO, Insight/OneView, array management). Many vendors resell factory-original drives or fully-certified equivalents, but enterprises should verify firmware compatibility when mixing OEM and third-party drives. 

Mean time between failures (MTBF) & warranty considerations

Midline drives are manufactured for capacity and a reasonable reliability profile, but MTBF and workload expectations differ from enterprise-class SAS drives. Typical warranties for this SKU offered by various distributors range from 1 to 3 years depending on reseller terms and whether the drive is sold as OEM, spare, or refurbished. When deploying at scale, plan for drive monitoring, proactive spares, and a replacement strategy to mitigate the higher raw failure risk compared to higher-end enterprise media. 

Compatibility and use-case fit

Server and array compatibility

The 863768-B21 is aimed at HPE ProLiant G8/G9/G10 systems and HPE array shelves that accept 3.5" SmartCarrier (SC) SATA drives. Many server spares lists and compatibility matrices identify this part number as an approved option for specific ProLiant models and SmartArray controllers. Administrators should consult the server's HCL or storage array documentation before deployment, particularly when mixing drive types in RAID groups or using third-party carriers. 

Ideal workloads

• Capacity-tier storage: Data lakes, cold storage buckets, archival repositories.
• Backup & snapshot targets: Secondary staging volumes for backup appliances and deduplicating systems.
• Media & content delivery: Large file delivery where high sequential throughput matters more than low latency.
• Virtual machine density (read-mostly): Consolidated archival VMs or cold VDI images.
• Hybrid tiers: As a lower-cost layer beneath cache/SSD tiers in tiered storage architectures.

Deployment guidance and best practices

RAID configuration and rebuild considerations

Because of its 10TB capacity and 512e physical sector mapping, rebuild times can be lengthy in large RAID groups. Use RAID levels that balance redundancy and rebuild time for your environment (e.g., RAID6 or erasure-coding for large-capacity arrays). When replacing failed drives, ensure spare drives are matched by sector format (512e vs 4Kn) and firmware compatibility to avoid array rebuild hiccups. Consider hot spares and staggered rebuild policies to reduce risk during multi-drive failures. 

Thermal, power and enclosure planning

Large-capacity, 3.5" drives generate more heat and consume more power under sustained workloads than smaller form factor drives. Ensure adequate airflow, correct drive bay blanking, and controller-level power profile settings. For dense enclosures, account for ambient temperature rise and validate the enclosure's power budget (especially when mixing HDDs with SSDs). Regular airflow audits and temperature monitoring via iLO or array management software help extend drive longevity. 

Firmware and monitoring

Keep firmware current where vendor guidance recommends updates, and integrate SMART/telemetry monitoring into your system-management pipeline. HPE system tools can surface predictive failure indicators (reallocated sectors, pending sectors, increased error counts), enabling pre-emptive replacement before catastrophic failure. Maintain a log of firmware versions in your asset inventory to streamline troubleshooting. 

Comparison: 863768-B21 versus alternatives

Compared to enterprise SAS (10K/15K) drives

Enterprise SAS drives (10K/15K RPM) provide substantially lower latency and higher IOPS, making them better for transactional databases and latency-sensitive applications. The 863768-B21 trades those higher IOPS and lower latency characteristics for much lower cost per TB and higher raw capacity per slot, making it a clear fit for capacity-focused tiers. When capacity density and budget control are the prime objectives, the 10TB MDL SATA drive frequently wins the cost/benefit analysis. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Compared to SSDs and NVMe

Solid state drives excel at random I/O and latency-sensitive workloads but remain more expensive per GB. Many modern architectures use a small SSD tier (cache/metadata) in front of large-capacity HDD tiers like the 863768-B21 — a hybrid approach that combines low-latency front-end performance with economical storage capacity for bulk data. Consider hybrid arrays or software tiering solutions when migrating high-value workloads to balance cost and performance.

Buying, procurement and SKU variants

OEM vs compatible/aftermarket options

The 863768-B21 may be sold under different internal SKUs or matching OEM identifiers (for example, MB010000GWAYN or other SmartBuy/spare part references) depending on the reseller. OEM-labeled drives typically include vendor-signed firmware and official HPE serials; compatible aftermarket options may be less expensive but require careful verification of compatibility and firmware. Purchase decisions should weigh vendor warranty, reseller reputation, and whether firmware branding matters for your management tools. 

Packaging and quantities

Resellers often offer single units, multi-packs (2/5/10 drive kits), or server spare part kits. Buying in bulk can reduce per-unit cost, but inventory and warranty terms can vary. Confirm shipping protection (antistatic packaging), warranty period, and return policy for bulk purchases. 

Features (bullet format for scannability)

• 10TB raw capacity in a 3.5" LFF form factor — maximize rack TB density.
• SATA 6Gb/s interface with native command queuing for multi-stream throughput.
• 512e sector emulation for broad OS compatibility and legacy systems.
• Midline (MDL) workload class — cost-efficient capacity for archival and backup tiers.
• Hot-plug SmartDrive compatibility for easy swaps and reduced downtime.

Product highlights (short paragraph)

The HPE 863768-B21 provides a pragmatic balance between cost and capacity. For organizations prioritizing raw storage space and predictable sequential transfer rates — such as content repositories, backup targets and long-term archives — this drive is a practical building block for economical storage tiers.

Installation, maintenance and lifecycle tips

Pre-install checks

• Verify the server/enclosure supports 3.5" SmartDrive carriers and SATA 6Gb/s drives.
• Check controller firmware and array compatibility notes; update management tools if necessary.
• Confirm sector format (512e) compatibility with OS and backup or dedupe appliances.

Drive insertion & hot-swap procedure

Follow the server vendor's hot-swap procedure to avoid spurious array errors. Use SmartDrive carriers and confirm bay indexing for RAID layouts. If replacing a failed drive, allow the controller to complete any background verification or consistency checks after rebuild before heavy production loads are applied.

Firmware & monitoring

Integrate SMART alerts and HPE telemetry into monitoring systems. Schedule periodic health reports and make spare drives available to shorten mean time to repair (MTTR). Proactively replace drives showing SMART thresholds or predictive failure indicators rather than waiting for catastrophic failure. 

Risk management and lifecycle planning

Data protection strategies

For large-capacity drives, adopt redundancy beyond simple RAID5 for critical data (RAID6, erasure coding, or erasure-coded object storage) to account for extended rebuild windows and the potential for unrecoverable read errors during recovery. Keep regular verified backups and immutable snapshots for ransomware and logical corruption protection.

End-of-life planning

Track drive age, power-on hours, and error metrics as part of lifecycle decisions. Replace drives proactively as they near end of manufacturer-recommended service life or when SMART telemetry shows degradation. Retain a controlled process for secure decommissioning and data sanitization when drives are retired.